Plastic mulc improves microbial quality and shelf life of cold stored butter lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. Lores)

AGÜERO MARÍA VICTORIA; PONCE ALEJANDRA G; MOREIRA MARÍA R; ROURA SARA INES

FRESH PRODUCE

Global Science Books

Año: 2008 vol. 2 p. 6 - 13

1749-4788

Differences in soil management during crop cultivation (plastic mulch or bare soil) are likely to influence microflora behavior during the post-harvest of the product. The evolution of native microflora and sensory quality analysis were assayed during cold storage of butter lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. Lores) from greenhouse cultivation using mulch and bare soil. All parameters analyzed were measured in three different zones of the complete lettuce head named as the external (outer leaves), middle (intermediate leaves) and internal (inner leaves) zones. The lettuce cultivation method had an impact on the initial counts and microbial evolution during refrigerated storage, playing a singular role on the sensorial quality and shelf life of each lettuce. The higher initial counts in mulch lettuce could be explained by the microclimate generated by the plastic mulch around the plant. While bacterial increment was observed from the beginning of the storage phase in the three zones of bare soil lettuce, cold storage had a bacteriostatic or bactericidal effect on mulch lettuce. Through OVQ indexes a significant higher shelf life was observed in mulch lettuce.